Old Dominion’s new Sailing Assistant Coach Cara Vavolotis is first non-ODU alumni
Written By: Matthew McCracken
Sports Editor
Starting the 2011 Sailing season, Old Dominion is nationally ranked at No. 12 for Women’s and No. 16 for Coeds. Despite previous years of success, new keys were brought in to better the Monarchs, starting with the coaching staff.
Old Dominion’s sailing coaching staff hired Cara Vavolotis as their new assistant coach on August 30th. Vavolotis is the first addition of the Monarch’s sailing coaching staff that isn’t alumni of Old Dominion. “I bring new ideas from other places I’ve been and coached at that are different than Old Dominion,” Vavolotis said.
Vavolotis, a recent 2010 graduate from Eckerd University, was an honorable mention All-American as a senior. With passion for the sport and expertise in precision, Vavolotis coaches in a different manner than others. “I try to explain things in ways [my sailors] can relate to. I mean, at one point, I wasn’t a star sailor, I was in the same position,” Vavolotis said.
As an assistant coach at Eckerd in 2011, Vavolotis help pave the way for her Trojans to gain berths in both the ICSA/Gill Co-ed National Championships and the Sperry Top-Sider/ICSA Women’s finals.
Moving right along to another successful program in Old Dominion, Vavolotis commented on some difference between the two schools. “They [Old Dominion] have a lot of University backing us up here. It’s nice they have that kind of support here.”
Still in her prime years as a sailor, Vavolotis still sails competitively when time prevails. Due to coaching, she is not able to give 100% of her time to competitions, yet, always gives top-effort when given the chance. Picking to coach instead of concentrating on sailing competitively, Vavolotis said that “giving back the knowledge I have is more important right now.”
Vavolotis has not received any joking from fellow coaches and players for being the only coach that didn’t come from the Monarchs. Some would say it’s because they are more focused on their goal of making it to national’s in every category of racing, but Vavolotis said otherwise.
“I’m just real easy going, I like to keep the spirits up.”
Vavolotis majored in Creative arts with a minor in Management during her time at Eckerd University. Both subjects of study do not have a direct correlation to sailing, but Vavolotis spent every minute outside the classroom on the water.
The athletic ability of Vavolotis as a sailor was built from other sports that relate with the needs of sailing. Vavolotis played soccer, tennis, and track in high school along with skiing during the winter.
Despite her youth, Vavolotis has helped coach for not only college-level sailors, but for various yacht clubs including the Beverly, Hyannis, and Annisquam. When asked why Vavolotis picked Old Dominion to be the home of the next chapter of her coaching career, she said, “They are very well-respected in college sailing. It’s a great team with great coaches, and I was excited to join that.”
Valvolotis is preparing to help guide the Monarchs to every national competition they can compete in, including women’s, Co-ed’s, and team racing. During her free time, she is planning on continuing her growth as a competitive sailor by trying to qualify for future Olympic Games.
A sailor with great talent as well as a coach with the same enthusiasm as her sailors, Valvolotis asks for one favor from Old Dominion students and faculty.
“Come support your sailors, it’s a pretty cool sport.”
